The Grand Central Hotel - Belfast

With 300-plus rooms across 23 floors, the Grand Central is well set up for golf groups and societies, especially if you're trying to keep everyone under one roof in the city centre. Rooms are modern, comfortable and practical, with good bathrooms and enough space to deal with the usual post-round chaos of waterproofs, shoes and kit. Many rooms also come with wide views across Belfast, which is a nice bonus when the weather does what Irish weather does.

The headline feature is the Observatory Bar. Up on the top floor, the floor-to-ceiling glass gives you a full sweep of the skyline and it's exactly the sort of place where the group ends up reliving every lip-out and lucky bounce from the day. The drinks list feels considered rather than copy-and-paste, with a strong whiskey line-up alongside beers, wines and the usual favourites.

Food and downtime are covered across three separate spaces. The main restaurant handles breakfast and evening meals with a menu that leans on local produce, the lounge offers lighter bites and all-day options, and the Observatory Bar is where most groups end up once the clubs are put away. That flexibility works well for golf trips, whether you're heading out early, arriving back late or trying to keep a mixed group happy without too much faff.

If you're building a Belfast-based itinerary, the Grand Central's location is the big win. You've got trains and road links close by, plus plenty going on within a few minutes' walk. The Cathedral Quarter, Titanic Quarter and waterfront are all on your doorstep, with dozens of restaurants, pubs and live music venues within easy reach of the hotel, which makes it straightforward to keep the momentum going after the final putt drops.